The PTO is implementing an “Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program” that will permit applicants to effectively extend the duration of a provisional application to 24 months. The deails of the program were discussed earlier.
This type of program is very dangerous given the international treaty and US statutory guidelines and bars to patenting. The PTO claims that it has taken comments on these issues to heart and providing warnings to help applicants proceed with the program with caution. Applicants cannot have their applications accidentally fall into the program, as a specific certification and request are required to participate.
HT: Hal Wegner.
December 13, 2010 at 9:03 am |
[...] PTO implements 24 month provisional program (Inventive Step) [...]